Removable refractory furnace cover

ABSTRACT

A roof structure comprises a number of parallel I-beams each having a row of refractory tiles having T-shaped slots which fit over a flange of the I-beam. Reinforcing steel plates are disposed between adjacent tiles of a row. The plate has a web portion overlying a side surface of one tile with a T-shaped opening of shape and dimensions the same as T-shaped slot in the tile. The plate also has a flange at its remote edge which extends into a groove formed in the side surface of the tile. The plate retains the tile in position on the I-beam in the event that the interlocking portion of the tile is broken.

United States atent [1 1 [111 3,778,950

Philander Dec. 18, 1973 [5 REMOVABLE REFRACTORY FURNACE 1,534,281 4/1925Morgan et al. 52/484 x COVER 3,340,832 9/1967 Grigsby 52/484 X Inventor:Herbert C. Philander, Chicago, 111.

Chicago Fire Brick Company, Chicago, 111.

June 22, 1972 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.1

US. Cl 52/483, 52/513, 110/99 A Int. Cl. F23m 5/04 Field of Search52/483, 596,484,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1966 Lingl 52/485 X 5/1965Darke 110/99 A 4/1968 Snellman 52/513 X 6/1937 Slaughter et al 52/487Primary ExaminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. AtmmeyZabe1, Baker, York & Jones [5 7ABSTRACT A roof structure comprises a number of parallel shape anddimensions the same as T-shaped slot in the tile. The plate also has aflange at its remote edge .which extends into a groove formed in theside surface [of the tile. The plate retains the tile in position on thel-beam in the eventthat the interlocking portion of the tile is broken.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 REMOVABLE REFRACTORY FURNACE COVER Thisinvention relates to movable furnace covers for the removable roof of arefractory furnace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention provides reinforcement forroof structures of the type that are made up of a number of refractoryblocks, referred to in this art as tiles," without mortar. Thearrangement provides a wall structure that can be easily assembled andone in which broken tile can be easily replaced. Because of the uniquesuitability of my invention to a type of horizontal wall known as amovable furnace cover, the invention will be described as appliedthereto.

Furnace roofs are customarily made up from a number of tiles which aresuspended from a steel supporting structure having members, referred toas suspension steel, which interlock with each tile individually.Various shapes of suspension steel and tile have been proposed includingan I-beam shown herein by way of example.

As indicated above, the tiles are suspended without mortar.'lnterlockingtongue and groove configurations provide sufficient rigidity in servicebut permit freedom of movement for thermal expansion. The ease ofreplacement of broken tile makes this a desirable construction inapplications where the suspended roofs are subject to mechanical damagedue to movement, vibration, and mechanical impacts. Movable roofs, suchas for soaking pits and some tundish designs, can be damaged intransport. In many cases workmen and cranes contact the tile, such as inplacing temporary burners on the roofs. Sometimes it is necessary towalk on the tile.

Although broken tile is readily replaced in a suspended roof, it is notconveniently done while the furnace is in operation and there isnormally the threat that broken tile can fall into the furnace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to my invention, I providereinforcing plates between the adjacent tiles, the plates havingopenings corresponding to those in the tile which receive the suspensionsteel member. The lower edge of the reinforcing plate has a flange whichfits into a thin slot formed in the tile. Thus a portion of the weightof the tile is transferred to the support beam by the reinforcing plate.The entire weight of the tile will be so supported in the event that theload bearing portion of tile which engages the support beam is brokenoff. There is no need to replace broken tile so supported for the lifeof the roof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a heat bleed fromthe suspension steel to the furnace environs. The load bearingproperties of steel beams become much diminished with increasingtemperature and this is observed as an increased sagging in the centerof the roof, with danger of collapse if the steel is too hot. Since theplates have a greater heat conductivity per unit cross section than the'refractory, which preferably has thermal insulating characteristics, acertain amount of heat will be conducted away from the steel to the edgeof the plate, which is flush with the upper tile surface, and radiated,thus lowering the temperature of the enclosed portion of the steel. Theplates are located in the upper portion of the tile and do notcompromise the insulating characteristics of the refractory.

The reinforcing plates can be fabricated to engage a variety of standardstructural steel members such as an I-beam, T-bar, channel, or angle,all of which have a reentrant type of cross section. The usual form isan I- beam suspension, which requires a T-shaped slot in the tile andsupporting plate. Furnace applications which can be considered forsuspended constructions of increased life using the reinforcing plateinclude soaking pit covers, tundish covers, billet reheating furnaces,slab reheating furnaces, forge furnaces, annealing furnaces, andreverberatory furnaces.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of asoaking pit having a removable cover embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the roof structureshowing a tile and its reinforcing plate in elevation in its normallysuspended position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and also showing achanged position of the parts;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the reinforcing plate;

FIG. 5 is an end view of FIG. 4;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I, the referencenumeral 10 designates a soaking pit and 11 designates the roof or coverwhich is removed by cables 12 connected'to a suitable crane or hoist,not shown.

The cover 11 comprises two or more main beams 13 plus the suspensionsteel 14 in the form of a number of I-beams. The I-beams 14 areconnected to the main beams 13 by suitable means, such as clips 15,which have side arms 16 which are bent under the upper flange of theI-beams 14 in interlocking relationship. Weld beads 17 maintain theclips 15 in engagement with the lower flange of the main beams 13.

The refractory tiles 18 are each formed with a T- shaped slot 19 whichprovides a through opening so that each tile may be slid into positiononto the lower flange 28 of the I-beam 14.

The tiles 18 are provided on two side surfaces with ribs 20 and on theother two side surfaces with recesses 21, each rib extending into arecess 21 on an adjacent tile. This interfitting of the ribs andrecesses is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The reinforcing plate 22 comprises a main web portion 23 which overliesthe upper side surface of the tile 18, and has formed therein a T-shapedopening 24 which is of substantially the same shape and dimensions asthe T-shaped slot 19.

The lower edge of the plate 22 is bent to provide a flange 25 whichextends into a groove 26 formed in the underlying side surface of thetile. The location of the groove 26 is preferably such that the edges ofthe opening 24 are flush with the interior surface of the slot 19. Thusit will be seen that the surface of the refractory material at the slot19 is protected to a substantial extent from forces which tend toproduce abrasion, chipping, and cracking, and at the same time, theblock is at least partially supported along its full width at the groove26.

It has been found, for example, that even though the overhangingportions 31 have been completely broken away that the tile, whenassembled in a completed roof structure, will nevertheless be supportedin its assembled position by the reinforcing plate 22.

The side surface 32 of the tile 18, above the groove 26 is relieved byan amount equal to the thickness of the plate 22 so that the sidesurfaces 33 at the bottom of the tile will remain in contact with eachother to provide the desired thermal protection.

After all of the tiles 18 and plates 22 have been assembled onto thesupporting steel 14, the four sides of thecover 11 are enclosed by asteel band 29, as shown in FIG. 1, at points beneath the extended endportions 30 of the beams 14.

In the arrangement shown, the cover 11 fits within the opening formed bythe vertical walls of the soaking pit 10. The l-beams 14 extendbeyond'the tiles 18 and rest on the rim 34 of the furnace opening tosupport the cover 11. Thus, the tiles 18 are at all times suspended fromthe beams 14 with the downwardly facing edge 27 of the plate 22, as wellas the c'orrespondinginterior surface of the slot 19, in contact withthe lower flange 28 of the beam 14. Slight discrepancies do notinterfere materially with the operation, as hereinafter described, dueto the fact that the surfaces of refractory material will wear away to apoint where they are coincident with the plate edges 29 or 27.

In its normally suspended position, the main beams 13 rest on and aresupported by the beams 14, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows the relativepositions of the beams 13 and 14 when the cover 11 is elevated out ofthe soaking pit as shown in FIG. 1. Here the main beams 13 support thebeams 14 through clips 15.

in a practical example, the tile 18 may be ofan insulating refractorymaterial disclosed in Parsons U.S. Pat. No. 3,l$0,989, granted Sept. 29,1964, the tile having dimensions of IO-A inches-by 7 inches by 4 inches,and weighing substantially pounds. The reinforcing plate 22 is of 16gauge automotive sheet steel, point carbon having a melting point ofsubstantially 2,750 F. The l-beams 14 may be 3 X 2-% inches mounted onlO-h inch centers.

Although only a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown andillustrated herein, it will be understood that various modifications andchanges can be made in the construction shown without departing from thespirit of my invention, as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a furnace having refractory walls and a top opening, a removablefurnace cover loosely fitting within said top opening, said covercomprising a plurality of spaced steel supporting beams, a plurality ofsideby-side rows of center-hung refractory tiles providing anundersurface for said cover made entirely from individually suspendedtiles, each row being suspended from one of said beams, and the tiles ofeach row each having a through opening for receiving and interlockingwith a portion of its associated supporting beam, re-

inforcing plates disposed between adjacent tiles in a row, eachreinforcing plate having a web overlying the upper side surface of onetile and having an opening therein of a shape and dimensionssubstantially the same as said through opening of said one tile, saidreinforcing plate having at its lower edge a horizontally extendingflange, and a groove formed in the side surface of said one tile andreceiving said flange, said groove being so located that said plateopening is substantially coincident with said through opening of saidone tile, and means connecting said supporting beams to each otherproviding a unitary structure capable of being lifted upwardly away-fromsaid furnace.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said supporting beam is an l-beamand in which said through opening of said tile is a T-shaped slot.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the side surface of said one tileis relieved above said groove to accommodate the thickness of saidreinforcing plate, said side surface having portions below said groovewhich contact the adjacent tile in said row.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said reinforcing plate is a steelplate.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said steel plate is 16 gaugesheet steel.

6. The combination of claim I in which said refractory tile is of athermal insulating material.

7. A refractory movable furnace cover comprising a plurality of spacedsteel supporting beams, a plurality of side-by-side rows of refractorytiles of a thermal insulating material providing an undersurface forsaid cover made entirely from individually suspended tiles, the tiles ofeach row being supported by one of said beams in suspended relationshipand having through openings providing portions interlocking with anembedded portion of said supporting beam, and a series of metal plates,one metal plate being located between each two adjacent tiles in a row,the upper edges of said plates being exposed and substantially flushwith the upper surface of said tiles, each plate having an openingtherein of a shape and dimensions substantially the same as said throughopening of said adjacent tiles providing a portion contacting saidembedded portion of a supporting beam in thermally conductingrelationship, said plates conducting heat away from said embeddedportion of a beam and radiating said heat at said exposed edge portion,said plates being located only at the upper side surface portions ofsaid tiles and the lower side surface portions of said tiles being incontact with each other to shield said plates from the heat within afurnace located beneath said cover, each plate having at its lower edgea horizontally extending flange, and a groove formed in the side surfaceof an adjacent tile and receiving said flange, said groove being solocated that said plate opening is substantially coincident with saidthrough opening of said adjacent tiles, and means connecting saidsupporting beams to each other providing a unitary structure capable ofbeing lifted up and away from said furnace.

1. In a furnace having refractory walls and a top opening, a removablefurnace cover loosely fitting within said top opening, said covercomprising a plurality of spaced steel supporting beams, a plurality ofside-by-side rows of center-hung refractory tiles providing anundersurface for said cover made entirely from individually suspendedtiles, each row being suspended from one of said beams, and the tiles ofeach row each having a through opening for receiving and interlockingwith a portion of its associated supporting beam, reinforcing platesdisposed between adjacent tiles in a row, each reinforcing plate havinga web overlying the upper side surface of one tile and having an openingtherein of a shape and dimensions substantially the same as said throughopening of said one tile, said reinforcing plate having at its loweredge a horizontally extending flange, and a groove formed in the sidesurface of said one tile and receiving said flange, said groove being solocated that said plate opening is substantially coincident with saidthrough opening of said one tile, and means connecting said supportingbeams to each other providing a unitary structure capable of beinglifted upwardly away from said furnace.
 2. The combination of claim 1 inwhich said supporting beam is an I-beam and in which said throughopening of said tile is a T-shaped slot.
 3. The combination of claim 1in which the side surface of said one tile is relieved above said grooveto accommodate the thickness of said reinforcing plate, said sidesurface having portions below said groove which contact the adjacenttile in said row.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which saidreinforcing plate is a steel plate.
 5. The combination of claim 4 inwhich said steel plate is 16 gauge sheet steel.
 6. The combination ofclaim 1 in which said refractory tile is of a thermal insulatingmaterial.
 7. A refractory movable furnace cover comprising a pluralityof spaced steel supporting beams, a plurality of side-by-side rows ofrefractory tiles of a thermal insulating material providing anundersurface for said cover made entirely from individually suspendedtiles, the tiles of each row being supported by one of said beams insuspended relationship and having through openings providing portionsinterlocking with an embedded portion of said supporting beam, and aseries of metal plates, one metal plate being located between each twoadjacent tiles in a row, the upper edges of said plates being exposedand substantially flush with the upper surface of said tiles, each platehaving an opening therein of a shape and dimensions substantially thesame as said through opening of said adjacent tiles providing a portioncontacting said embedded portion of a supporting beam in thermallyconducting relationship, said plates conducting heat away from saidembedded portion of a beam and radiating said heat at said exposed edgeportion, said plates being located only at the upper side surfaceportions of said tiles and the lower side surface portions of said tilesbeing in contact with each other to shield said plates from the heatwithin a furnace located beneath said cover, each plate having at itslower edge a horizontally extending flange, and a groove formed in theside surface of an adjacent tile and receiving said flange, said groovebeing so located that said plate opening is substantially coincidentwith said through opening of said adjacent tiles, and means connectingsaid supporting beams to each other providing a unitary structurecapable of being lifted up and away from said furnace.